Tana River Governor Dhado Godana and Galole Member of Parliament Said Hiribae were held for questioning on Friday night regarding the ongoing inter-clan tensions in the region.
The clashes have resulted in the loss of at least 18 lives and the displacement of numerous families.
According to DCI, the two leaders were taken in after failing to respond to earlier requests for an interview on the situation.
Director of Directorate of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin confirmed the two were brought to the headquarters in Nairobi for further questioning.
“Whereas other local leaders heeded the summonses for grilling into the unfortunate attacks there, these two did not bother to come to enable us to move forward,” DCI boss Amin said.
“They will be questioned over the issue,” he added.
Three other Members of Parliament from Tana River County were Friday grilled by police concerning the clashes.
Also grilled is a local Member of the County Assembly, police said. Amin said officers at the headquarters had summoned and grilled Ali Wario (Garsen) Yakub Adow (Bura) and MCA Mohammed Jibril (Bangale ward).
Also grilled was former woman representative Rehema Hassan.
Amin said they intend to forward their findings with recommendations to the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for action.
Police are investigating various crimes in regard to ongoing clashes that have so far claimed up to 18 lives.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki Friday gazetted 12 locations in Tana River County as disturbed areas. The locations will be treated as disturbed areas for the next one month.
This will allow multi-agency teams on the ground to conduct their operations targeting the groups behind the inter-clan attacks.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 106 (1) of the National Police Service Act, 2011, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, in consultation with the National Security Council, declares the following parts of Tana River County as security disturbed and dangerous,” the notice reads in part.
“This notice shall take effect on October 11, 2024, as from 6.30 p.m. for a period of thirty (30) days and may, at any time be withdrawn or continued in force for such further period as the Cabinet Secretary may, in each case, by notice in the Gazette direct.”
The 12 locations include Madogo, Areri, Saka, Sala, Mororo, and Mbalambala locations in the Bangale sub-county.
The others are Hirimani, Hosingo, Dukanotu, Chewele, Nanighi, and Bura locations in Tana North Sub-county.
At the same time, Inspector General of the National Police Service Douglas Kanja has also banned the possession of firearms in the same locations effective, October 11, 2024.
Kanja directed all firearm holders to surrender them to the nearest police stations. He said these individuals will have their firearms returned once the locations are declared safe.
“On the taking effect of this notice, all inhabitants of the said areas are ordered, with immediate effect, to surrender all arms in their possession to the nearest Police Station, Police Post, Police Camp and National Government Administration Offices during the hours of the day for safe custody.
“All arms surrendered shall be returned to their owners upon the revocation or termination of this notice,” the gazette notice said.